Shoe-horn.



C. R. REDHEFFER. SHOE HORN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.191s.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

M TTORNE) 7N5 Mom-us Psrzns ca. FIlOTD-LIHIL, WASMINnmM, n, c.

lll ll ll SHOE-ZHORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3U, Mitt.

Application filed July 8, 1916. Seria1N0. 108,086.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHAnLEs R. Runnerrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Shoe-Horns, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to shoe horns and has for an object to provide a device ofthis character which may be folded or collapsed when not in use into a compact form so that it may be easily carried in the pocket or in a purse, handbag or the like.

A further object is to provide a foldable shoe horn wherein the upper horn surface or heel guiding portion is one continuous smooth uninterrupted face whereby danger of tearing the stockings is eliminated.

It further consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrange ment and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective of a shoe horn embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the same folded or collapsed for convenience in carrying. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 83 of Fig. 2 showing the open position in dotted lines.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

1 designates the handle or body part of a shoe horn, the same being of convenient length for use and provided with a concave lower surface 2 for the purpose of conforming to the finger of the user and making the device easy to manipulate. An opening 3 is provided at one end of the body 1 by which it may be hung or suspended when not in use or by which it may be attached to a key ring and carried in the pocket.

4: designates the horn part proper having a relatively deep concave face 5 the contour of which is designed to conform to the shape of the average heel and thereby act as a smooth guide by which the foot is forced into the shoe. The horn part a in the present instance is secured to the handle 1 by means of a suitable hinge or pivot connection 6 while at the rear a pair of abutments 7 are provided to limit the movement of the horn part. Thus when the horn part is swung to its full open or operative position the abutments 7 engage and prevent further movement so that when the device is in use, the pressure of the heel is to all intents and purposes against a substantially solid horn. In other words, the device in its open position serves exactly as eiiiciently as does the ordinary integral or one piece shoe horn.

8 designates a latch suitably fixed to the handle or body part and in such a position that it will engage and slip over the edge of the horn part when the latter is folded back as shown in Fig. 2. This latch holds the device securely in its folded condition so that it may be readily carried in a vest pocket or the like, attached to a key ring if desired or carried in a handbag. In this latter connection, it will be noted that the device is particularly desirable for travelers, since it 00- cupies little space and is always ready for instant use.

I am aware that various types of combination utensils have heretofore been devised such as shoe horns, button hooks and the like but these are cumbersome to carry and use, since one utensil obstructs the proper use of the other. By my present invention, I have provided a device which presents a smooth uninterrupted surface for the guidance of the heel into the shoe, one which operates as effectively as a solid one piece horn and yet one which may be collapsed into a compact form to be carried in the pocket or dropped into a handbag for use at any time.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a. complete unitary structure for the purpose intended, one which is simple and economical in construction, effective in operation and capable of being collapsed or folded when not in use.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in. the statement of the invention and the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe horn consisting of two parts hinged together transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shoe horn, each part having a guiding surface forming in alined position a continuation of the surface of the other part and means to limit the opening movement of said parts whereby a substantially continuous guiding surface for a heel is formed by the combined parts.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe horn consisting of two parts hinged together transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shoe horn, each part having a guiding sur- 20 face forming in alined position a continuation of the surface of the other part, catch means to latch the parts in folded position and means to limit the opening movement of said parts whereby a substantially con- 25 CHARLES R. REDHEFFER.

\Vitnesses HELEN M. BYRNE, ROBERT M. BARR.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

